Cable clamp



Feb. 23, 1932. T. li-,IRKENMAIERv CABLE CLAMP Filed oct. 6, 1930Patented Feb. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THEODORE BIRKENMAIER,OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO W. N. MATTHEWS CORPORATION, OF ST.LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI CABLE CLAMP Application ledOctober 6', 1930. Serial No. 486,713.

This invention relates to clamps, and with reference to certain morespecific features, to cable clamps.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision ofa cable clamp which does not require prior bending of a cable in orderto effect clamping of the saine; the provision of a clamp of the classdescribed in which the cable is definitely and positively heldthroughout its traverse through the clamp, holding being effected alongchannels which are of a sinuous shape laterally to the direction ofapplied clamping force; the provision of a device of the class describedin which said channel is formed so as to produce minimum strain on theholding means for the clamp when stresses are applied to the cable; andthe provision of a device described which is economical to manufactureand simple to operate. Other objects will be in part obvious and in partpointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations ofelements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which willbe exemplified in the struc-` ture hereinafter described, and the scopeof the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are illustrated several ofvarious possible embodiments of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a pair of clamping blocks laid open;

36 Fig. 2 is a plan view of the left-hand block of Fig. 1 with cablelaid therein, prior to closing;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the left-hand block of Fin'. 1 with acable laid therein and surrounded by the right-hand block of Fig. 1,prior to applicationof clamping bolts;

Fig. 4 1s a view similar to Fig. 8 showing r a clamping bolt applied anddrawn up;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a pair of blocks laid open, showing anotherform of the invention,

the lower part of the figure showing in dotted lines the application ofa cable;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the alternative form ofFig. 5; and,

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 4, showing said alternative form ofFig. 5.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, there is illustrated atnumerals 1 and 3 a pair of blocks, the upturned faces of which areadapted to cooperate when faced toward one another'. In said faces ofthe blocks 1 and 3 are formed waveshaped or sinuous grooves 5 arrangedin pairs on the respective blocks 1 and 3 and formed so as to bejuxtaposed when the blocks are assembled as in clamping a cable.

Projections 7 having inclined faces 9 are arranged in staggeredrelationship on opposite sides of said grooves 5. The faces 9 of thelugs of projections 7 are so arranged that in the projection of Fig. 3they form a V- shape for cradling a straight length of cable. As isshown in Figs. 2 and 3, the straight length of cable is cradled betweenoppositely disposed, staggered lugs 7, and above the respective sinuousgrooves 5.

The mate 8 of the pair of blocks is provided with recesses 11 which areadapted to receive the respectivelugs 7 as clamping takes place. Theserecesses 11 are also positioned in a staggered relationship with respectto the sinuous groove 5.

In order that the blocks 1 and 3 may `be drawn together, there isprovided a pair of openings 13 in each, the respective pairs beingjuxtaposed for accommodating through bolts 15. The theory and operationof the device is as follows:

A length of cable or cables 17 is laid in the cradle formation providedby the sloping faces 9 of the staggered projections 7. This does notrequire any change in shape of the cable, Which, it will be appreciated,is relatively stiff if it be a metal cable such as is usually the case.Next the block 3 is laid on the cradled cable 17 as shown in Fig. 3 andthen the bolts 15 are passed through the juxtaposed openings 13 and nuts19 applied. The nuts may then be drawn up with a Wrench, thus drawingtogether the blocks 1 and 3. Under these conditions the then straightcable 17 is forced down between the projections 7, and inasmuch as saidprojections 7 are staggered, the alternate faces 9 force the cable 17 toslide down into position in the respective sinuous grooves 5. It will beseen that the mechanism for accomplishing the bending of the cable isbasically that of the inclined plane, the purpose of which is to providea high mechanical advantage between the clamping action of the bolts 15and the cable which is being bent. In other words, the full stresscaused by producing a bending strain is not applied directly andlongitudinally on the bolts, such as was the case in the prior art wherethe sinuous grooves 5 were placed in a plane substantially parallel tothe bolt. y In the present invention the sinuous shape of the groove isin a plane which is substantially at right angles or lateral to thebolt.

As the blocks 1 and 3 are drawn together, the projections 7 enter therecesses 11 and thus provide a guiding action. After the cable 17 hasfinally seated in the grooves 5, the stress due to the action of bendingis not appreciably exerted against the inclined plane 9 but mainly onthe sides of the grooves.

One of the advantages of the invention is that only a small force isrequired to draw up the nut 19 in order to provide a great force forbending the cable. Furthermore, the tendency of the cable to straightenunder longitudinal stresses when underload exerts a force which is notin the direction tending to 'l shear the threads of the nuts 19. It issubstantially at right anglesto, or lateral of the center lines of thebolts. Another feature is that the cable is constrained along its entirelength within the confines of the clamp so as to take the sinuousposition. It thus The fact that the cable is gripped all along eachsinuous groove effects a high frictional holding quality.

In Figs. 5 to 7 is shown another form of` the invention in which is useda pair of blocks 21 and 23. These blocks are provided with sinuous,juxtaposed pairs of grooves 25.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. l to 4, the staggeredsloping surfaces were provided by the lugs r. Sloping surfaces in ItheFigs. 5 to 7 form are provided by the slopes in the bodies 21 and 23, asindicated at numeral 27. From Figs. 6 and 7 it will be seen that theblock 23 comprises a female member with which cooperates a male memberof block 21 and that the projection on the male member Which carries thelower sloping faces 27 is accommodated by recesses 29 in the femaleblock 21. Thus provision is made' for alignment. Operation of the formof Figs. 5 to 7 is as follows:

The cable 17 is laid above the sinuous groove 25, no attempt being madeto bend it to shape. The block 21 is then applied from above as shown inFig. 6 and pulled down to the position shown ink Fig. 7.Y lThis isd'one' rby means ofa bolt 31 which is appliedthrough juxtaposedcooperating openings 33, a. nut 35 being applied. By drawing up the nutthe blocks 21 and 23 are drawn together, thereby driving the cable 17down the faces 27 of the block v23 (Fig. Y 6). As th'e cable 'is beingdriven down these facespit is also being further forced to take up theshape ofthe sinuous l groove by the upper sloping faces 27 ofthe lock21.(see Fig. 6). Finally, the cableV assumes tlie position shown in Fig.7 in which the sloping faces 27 have traversed theirl full range ofaction Von the cable. this time in the'sinuous groove 25, andanytendency for. it to straighten out, causedA either by springiness orapplied longitudinal' loads, effects Aa stress laterally of the bolt 31"and not longitudinally.thereof. Therefore, the saine advantages willaccrue to tliisform that accruedi to the form first described, namely,that little force is required at4 the nut 35 for dra-wing up purposesand little stress is applied to it through the bolt under workingconditions. The same completeness Thelcableis at of gripping on thecable' is also effected. All

of the advantages arel obtained with a construction employing only oneclamping bolt. Itis to be noted` that the advantageousniechanicaladvantage permits one bolt-to take 'care of the entireclamping act-ion andk holding.

several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageousresults attained.

As many changescould be made in carrying out the above constructionswithout departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative andnot in a limitingsense.

I claim: 1. A cable clamp comprising a pair,l of blocks adapted to bejuxtaposed, juxtaposed sinuous grooves lin the `respective blocks,

means for drawing said blocks together, and means comprising aninclinedplane for forcing a. cable to conform to s 'aid grooves asvtheVblocks are drawn together.

2. A cable clamp comprising a pair vof In view of the above, it will beseen that theblocks adapted to be juxtaposed, juxtaposed sinuous groovesin the respective blocks, means for drawing said blocks together, andmeans comprising an inclined plane for forcing a cable to conform tosaid grooves as the blocks are drawn together, said grooves being in aplane which is laterally located with respect to the length of thedrawing means.

3. A cable clamp comprising a pair of blocks adapted to be juxtaposed,juxtaposed sinuous grooves in the respective blocks, a bolt for drawingsaid blocks together, and means comprising an inclined plane for forcinga cable to conform to said grooves as the blocks are drawn together,said grooves being in a plane which is laterally located with respect tothe length of said bolt, said inclined plane means also comprising aguide for aligning said block.

4. A cable clamp comprising a pair of blocks adapted to be juxtaposed,juxtaposed, sinuous grooves in said blocks, and at least one bolt fordrawing said blocks together, said grooves being in a plane positionedlaterally of said bolt.

5. A cable clamp comprising a pair of blocks adapted to be juxtaposed,juxtaposed sinuous grooves in said blocks, at least one bolt for drawingsaid blocks together, said grooves being in a plane positioned laterallyof said bolt, and inclined-plane means for forcing a straight cablepositioned between said blocks to assume the sinuous shapes of saidgrooves.

6. A cable clamp comprising a pair of blocks adapted to be juxtaposed,pairs of sinusoidal grooves in said blocks adapted to be juxtaposed,means for guiding a straight cable into each of the grooves as theblocks are drawn together, said guiding means being staggered withrespect to said grooves, and a pair of holding bolts passing throughsaid block between the grooves.

7. A cable clamp comprising a pair of blocks adapted to be juxtaposed,pairs o'l sinusoidal grooves in said blocks adapted to be juxtaposed,means for guiding a straight cable into each of the grooves as theblocks are drawn together, and at least one holding bolt passing throughsaid block between the grooves.

8. A cable clamp comprising a pair of blocks, a single bolt adapted todraw said blocks together, juxtaposed sinusoidal grooves in said blocksformed in a plane substantially at right angles to said bolt, andinclined-plane means for forcing a straight cable to assume thesinusoidal shape of the groove as the blocks are brought together'.

9. A cable clamp comprising a pair of blocks, a single bolt adapted todraw said blocks together, juxtaposed sinusoidal grooves in said blocksformed in a plane sub stantially at right angles to said bolt, and

inclined-plane means for forcing a straight cable to assume thesinusoidal shape of the groove as the blocks are brought together, saidbolt passing between said grooves.

l0. A cable clamp comprising a pair of blocks, a single bolt adapted todraw said blocks together, juxtaposed sinusoidal grooves in said blocksformed in a plane substantially at right angles to said bolt, andinclined-plane means for forcing a straight cable to assume thesinusoidal shape of the groove as the blocks are brought together, saidbolt passing between said grooves, said grooves being sufficiently longto force at least two lengths of the cable to be positioned in a givenplane.

l1. A cable clamp comprising a pair of blocks adapted to be drawntogether, juxtaposed sinusoidal grooves in said blocks, guiding meansfor forcing a cable into each of said grooves when the blocks arebrought together, said guiding means serving to hold the cable inposition between the blocks before said cable is bent to the sinusoidalshape of the grooves.

12. A cable clamp comprising a pair of blocks adapted to be drawntogether, juxtaposed sinusoidal grooves in said blocks, guiding meansfor forcing a cable into each of said grooves when the blocks arebrought together, said guiding means serving to hold the cable inposition between the blocks before said cable is bent to the sinusoidalshape of the grooves, said guiding means for the cable also functioningas a guide for aligning said blocks as they are brought together.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this4th day of October, 1980.

THEODORE BIRKENMAIER.

